Growth conditions influence melanization of Brazilian clinical Sporothrix schenckii isolates.

Sporothrix schenckii is known to produce DHN melanin on both conidial and yeast cells, however little information is available regarding the factors inducing fungal melanization. We evaluated whether culture conditions influenced melanization of 25 Brazilian S. schenckii strains and one control strain (ATCC 10212).

Cutaneous mucormycosis in a young, immunocompetent girl.

We report a case of cutaneous mucormycosis in a healthy, immunocompetent young girl (age 14 years). The patient had a 5-year history of a slowly enlarging, erythematous plaque with slight elevated, scaling, circinate borders on the right thigh. Histopathology showed a granulomatous infiltrate with broad, pale, non-septate hyphae.

Primary conjunctival sporotrichosis: two cases from a zoonotic epidemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Purpose: To describe Sporothrix schenckii conjunctivitis in 2 owners of cats with sporotrichosis.

Methods: Small case series and literature review.

Results: Two women had been caring for their pet cats with sporotrichosis for 2 months but did not recall any traumatic injury such as scratches or bites.

Evaluation of an epidemic of sporotrichosis in cats: 347 cases (1998-2001).

Objective: To evaluate characteristics of a large epidemic of sporotrichosis in cats.

Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: 347 cats with naturally acquired infection with Sporothrix schenckii.

Sporothrix schenckii isolated from domestic cats with and without sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

A total of 148 cats with a clinical and mycologic diagnosis of sporotrichosis and 84 apparently healthy cats with domiciliary contact with the affected animals were studied. Sporothrix schenckii was isolated from 148 (n = 148; 100%) clinical samples of cutaneous lesion (biopsy, swab or aspiration of purulent secretion), 47 (n = 71; 66.2%) nasal cavities, 33 (n = 79; 41.